Republican Environmental Heroes...

REP America, the national grassroots organization of Republicans for environmental protection, today welcomed the House Rules Committee's removal of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling authorization from the budget reconciliation bill and praised Republicans who forced leadership to do the right thing.

"This demonstrates that our party's environmentally responsible lawmakers can make a big difference when they stand together. We are particularly pleased that many of them have already warned leadership against trying to put Arctic drilling back into the legislation in conference with the Senate," said David Jenkins, Government Affairs Director of REP America.

...

(From REP)"REP America thanks and congratulates the GOP congressmen who stood together and won their battle to get drilling authorization in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge removed from a House budget reconciliation bill. If you are represented by one of the following in Congress, please take a moment to write and thank him or her for taking a strong stand for America's natural heritage and for a sensible energy strategy."Roscoe Bartlett (MD)Charles Bass (NH)Sherwood Boehlert (NY)Jeb Bradley (NH)Michael Castle (DE)Vernon Ehlers (MI)Mike Ferguson (NJ)Mike Fitzpatrick (PA)Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ)Jim Gerlach (PA)Wayne Gilchrest (MD)Bob Inglis (SC)Nancy Johnson (CT)Tim Johnson (IL)Sue W. Kelly (NY)Mark Kennedy (MN)Mark Kirk (IL)Jim Leach (IA)Frank LoBiondo (NJ)Jim Ramstad (MN)Dave Reichert (WA)Jim Saxton (NJ)F. James Sensenbrenner (WI)Christopher Shays (CT)Rob Simmons (CT)James Walsh (NY)

This is perhaps the best news I've heard in months about the Arctic Refuge...however there still is a serious chance that refuge drilling language in the Senate passed budget could be in the final bill that emerges from House/Senate conference negotiations, we'll keep you updated.